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“When a Christian Shuns Fellowship with Other Christians, the Devil

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“When a Christian Shuns Fellowship with Other Christians, the Devil Kissing is not uniquely Christian. It is not a uniquely Christian affection. And what the apostles say is: Take it from the world and sanctify it. Make it holy. Devote it to God. Make it say something about the Holy One. Include God in your hearts and in your thoughts when you greet And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the Holy Kiss! one another with this ordinary, culturally common greeting. fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet It seems similar to 1 Timothy 2:8 where Paul says that he wants the you. Romans 16:16 men to pray lifting holy hands. I think the main point there is not that Merriam-Webster defines fellowship as community of interest, activity, everywhere and at all times in the church where there is prayer, the feeling, or experience. The New Testament word for "fellowship," koi- Paul tells the church four times — the Romans, the Corinthians, the men must have their hands in the air. Surely there are times when nonia, expresses the idea of being together for mutual benefit. He- Thessalonians — to great one another with a holy kiss. And Peter says other postures would also be appropriate. The point is: When you lift brews 10:24-25 shares this idea, saying, "And let us consider how to to greet one another with a kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14). And I would say your hands, they should be holy hands in prayer. stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet that has at least three implications for us. So when the kiss of affection is given to a brother in Christ it should together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all It doesn’t seem to me that Paul and Peter tell the church to greet one not be sensual or manipulative or offensive or hypocritical or in any the more as you see the Day drawing near." There are several reasons another with a holy kiss, meaning: You dare not even see one another way pretending to express affection that is not really there. It fellowship with other believers is crucial for all believers. without kissing one another. It is not that kind of rule. For instance: If shouldn’t hide any sin in our lives. It should be a holy kiss. So the First, it expresses love to one another. Jesus told His disciples, "By this you walk out of this room while we are having tea and you walk back lesson we can learn here is, whatever means of expressing greetings, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one into the room, I need to greet you with a kiss. Or if I see you between let them be genuine. Right now, what do you do? Ball up your fist and another" (John 13:35). The love Christians have for one another can classes at 9:00, I need to kiss you and if I see you after that class as we hit somebody’s knuckles. So I think what the apostles want to do is influence others toward faith in Jesus Christ. It is very difficult to show are walking down the hall, I need to kiss you again. Paul and Peter encourage us to use various culturally appropriate symbols of love for one another if not in fellowship. were not prescribing that kind of precisions. greeting and sanctify them and make them holy. What do we do? We Second, it promotes unity. When we have fellowship with one another They were saying: Take the physical, familial expression of ball up our fists and we do fist bumps with each other. I hardly ever we can put into practice what God desires of His people, unity. “That endearment and use it in a way that is holy to express your love for know what to do. which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you one another. And he didn’t prescribe that it had to be done every “Fist bump with a holy fist bump.”TweetShare on Facebook too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the single time you see one another fresh for the full time. He just said: Somebody makes a fist at me and I think: Oh yeah, I am supposed to Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 Use it. Use it. Do it. And I think that we would do well to think of ways punch you on the fist. What is that? I don’t know where that comes Third, Christian fellowship gives us the ability to pray together. We can that we might include a holy kiss in our greetings, especially perhaps from or what that is, but I do it and I think Paul would look at that and and should pray individually. Jesus is our example, In these days he for very dear friends after very long absences. And I am mainly he would say: I encourage all of you guys — I don’t know whether went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer thinking of people of the same sex here, because I think you have to women do this or not — I encourage all of you guys to fist bump with to God (Luke 6:12). But, there are times that we need to pray together be so careful with kissing people of the opposite sex. a holy fist bump. That this what he is getting at. Take the culturally (Acts 4:23-41). There are two men in my life who kiss me when I see them. I don’t see appropriate means of showing brotherhood or camaraderie or It is my deepest desire to see each of you and to greet you just as the them but once or twice a year, and they kiss me on the cheek after affection and make them holy. New Testament Saints did. However, we are restricted by Government these months of separation. Only two. There used to be three, and Third and finally, I suspect — and this is the main point — that authorities from doing so at this time. During these trying and difficult now my father is in heaven. And frankly, it means a great deal to me Christians should feel genuine affection for one another. I have been times, God has made away for us to continue to have fellowship that these brothers put a kiss on my cheek. Both of them are manly, reading 1 Peter a lot lately and really been impressed, because I am with one another. We have been live streaming our services and thoughtful, self-controlled guys. It means one thing: “You, John Piper, teaching it to the seminary guys. And it seems to me that Peter is conducting Zoom Bible studies. This past week we held our first drive are precious to me. I value our friendship very highly though we don’t writing to a persecuted, beleaguered church trying to encourage in church service. This week we will be live streaming our Sunday see each other very often.” That is what it means. them how to live as exiles in a vast sea of unbelievers who are being School hour at 9:00 AM and Worship Service at 10:30 AM. Second, what Paul and Peter are making plain here is to stress that the very hostile to them. And he is laboring to help them not just show ordinary kiss — and it is just an ordinary word for kiss — should be dutiful, sacrificial love to each other, but rather to feel earnest, **** Important Announcement**** made holy by the Christian church rather than being abandoned. So heartfelt affection to one another. I think that is why he says at the I am excited to announce that starting on the last Sunday of this there is a lesson here for us. He says “a holy kiss.” end: Kiss one another with a kiss of love. So 1 Peter 1:22 says, “Having month April 26, 2020 we will be having drive in church every Sunday purified your souls by obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly morning. During the Spring we will stay with a 10:30 am start time. We love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” Those words are will continue to live stream the services from the parking lot. During so beyond “treat each other nice” — way beyond that. He is calling for the service on the 26th we will celebrate the Lords Supper together. Christians to really have changes of heart so that when we approach Please bring bread and juice to celebrate in your cars. I am thankful another Christian, our hearts are drawn out in words like this. that God has provided for us a way to remain in fellowship with one This is 1 Peter 3:8: “Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a another during these unprecedented times. Myself, the other pastors, tender heart, and a humble mind.” I mean, three of those — sympathy, and elders are here for you. Please let me know how we can minster to brotherly love, tender heart — imply how warm and tender and gentle you and your families. “When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, and kind and affectionate we should be towards brothers and sisters the devil smiles.
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